Factory Visit: Designing Better Products at the Hive
The Hive offices in Petaluma, CA is one busy place. Days after the huge Sea Otter festival ended, gear and equipment was scattered everywhere. But it seemed to work perfectly for this small team of designers and engineers. Studies about creative people’s desks always being messier than left brained folks seem to be true here.
The Hive is a collection of labels that were started at different times, but now are under one ownership. Originally started in 2008 by bike industry vets, coming from companies Truvativ, Formula, and Mountain Cycle, among others, the Hive has built a really solid line up of products. In their own words, we’re “committed to improving cyclists experience through the relentless application of engineering and design principles.”
E*Thirteen is probably the most well known brand. Having been started by suspension guru Dave Weagle in 2002, as part of his Evil Bike company, the first product was the “chain retention system”, or chain guide. Wanting to spend more time with his growing suspension design work, Weagle approached Chris Costello and the Hive about transferring ownership of E*Thirteen. They worked out the details and things have grown steadily ever since for both parties.
Currently, the Hive has a handful of employees and a couple business partners that are investors in the company. They’re privately held and appear to be a small, cozy group. They like doing their own thing, on their own time frame. As it turns out, it’s a fairly furious pace.
The office section has a very comfortable, living room type atmosphere. Kick your feet up on the table, have some coffee, ride your bike through, it’s pretty relaxed around here. Running shoes and flip-flops are the footwear of choice. Another reflection on the casualness. The guys here are all pretty easy going and get along well. Which might be a big reason they’re in business together. As soon as you sit down, Gus the office dog will come over and say Hi. The greeting crew.
Directly next to the office is the warehouse and shop. Pretty much every guys dream set up. Big comfy leather couches next to the beer fridge, then go through one door and you’re working on your bike in an oversized shop that not only has all the tools you could use, but lots of extra power tools, like you had your own machine shop or something.
Keep your eyes open, as the Hive is constantly coming out with new product and fine tuning existing gear. They’ve recently updated their website and added a lot of genuinely helpful information about their own offerings, but also general educational bits such as “Chainline Explained. What is chainline and why does it matter?” If you enjoy keeping your bike in tip top running shape, or maybe you don’t really know anything about chain guides, and are considering one because your chain came off a few times during your first enduro race, then the website might be helpful to you.
If you weren’t aware, we’re believers in what the Hive is doing, and have reviewed a number of their products. Need a great enduro tough wheel set, check out the TRS+ wheels. Want a tough, durable, and stiff crank, maybe going with one chainring up front, look at the TRS Race Crank. We liked them both so much, we gave them our Design and Innovation Award in 2013. Check out issue #4 to read more.
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